Funeral held at Catholic Church for boy killed by alligator in Florida

The funeral of a two-year-old boy killed in an alligator attack in Florida has been held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Nebraska.

Lane Thomas Graves was on holiday with his family at the Disney World resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida when he was dragged into a lagoon by an alligator.

The boy’s father attempted to fight the beast off but was unable to rescue his son who subsequently drowned.

A Mass service was held in Lane’s hometown of Omaha on Monday in a private ceremony for family and friends.

According to the church’s website, the Graves family are members of the St. Patrick’s community and the boy’s older sister, Ella, attends their school.

A statement from Lane’s parents, Matt and Melissa, was also published on the church website. The couple write: “[We] are overwhelmed with the support and love we have received from family and friends in our community as well as from around the country.”

The family have set up the Lane Thomas Foundation in his memory. On the foundation website his parents say: “Losing Lane has broken our hearts in the worst possible way. While there is no way to mend our hearts, we can do good work in his honour.”